From Terrorism to Nonviolence and the Islamic Peace Paradigm: Jihad, Just War, Peace and Islamic Nonviolence

Islamic contributions in the areas of peace, war, and nonviolence require to be revisited in post-September 11 world. With reinterpretation and redefinition of Islamic concepts of jihad (sacred struggle), sabr (patience), adl (justice), umma (community), sulha (reconciliation), hijra (exodus), diversity, and tolerance, this study attempts to contribute the Islamic understanding of war, peace, and nonviolence. Also, the story of Cain and Abel in the Qur’an shows an example for the nonviolent action together with other contemporary Islamic nonviolence actions such as Intıfıada, Kosovo, and Abdul Ghaffir Khan in Afghanistan. This study will examine the just war, qital (fighting), jihad (sacred struggle), Islamic peace and nonviolence